How do you deal with aching hands when gaming with a pad?

[Qaenyin]

I have issues with my hands hurting on a dual shock 2.  It's strange because I don't have that problem with other pads.  I think it has to do with the design of the d-pad.

[pc1x1]

Every time someone uses a pad, or keyboard, a prinny  -insert here-

[Kurii]

I use my shirt and put it over the D-Pad. This makes it easier for your left hand to move around. You can also wrap your shirt around to the back if your inner knuckle of your middle finger between the pointer and middle finger starts to get sore. I've grown so used to this style, I can't play Pad without a shirt, and I find myself accidentally doing this with my DS.

[ಠ_ಠ Dizzynecro]

1632143.  Geese and Kohaku players know, pain is fleeting, glory is forever.

~M

[Kelong]

I use my shirt and put it over the D-Pad. This makes it easier for your left hand to move around. You can also wrap your shirt around to the back if your inner knuckle of your middle finger between the pointer and middle finger starts to get sore. I've grown so used to this style, I can't play Pad without a shirt, and I find myself accidentally doing this with my DS.

I used to do this as well, looks kinda stupid but it works.

[Choco]

Playing on pad hurt.

So I switched to stick.

[Alfonse]

Good lord, I suppose using a stick is the best way to go. 

[Sh1k1]

I call bullshit.

[Alfonse]

I call bullshit.

*throws Cruel Colossal Muffin of Evisceration*

[Sh1k1]

*dodges like Jim Carrey when he was playing The Mask*

Seriously, I call bullshit. I've been playing with a PlayStation D-Pad since around 1997 and never had any stamina problem with it, nor just about any other problem. Actually, the SNES D-Pad broke my thumb skin rather more often than the PS D-Pad. And this comes from a guy that madly plays Street Fighter Alpha 3, Pocket Fighter, and similar fast-paced fighting games.

[Alfonse]

I shit you not. When it comes to execution heavy characters like Saber or Heart (lol), the aching does happen after countless inputs of 2xx. I have a semi-permanent blister on my left thumb as a result of playing those games. My right hand used for button inputs barely aches at all.

[Sh1k1]

Well, then maybe you just weren't meant for a PS D-Pad after all. I told you, I've been playing with the four-buttoned D-Pad since around 1997 when I first played Street Fighter Alpha 2 Gold on a friend's PS1, and ever since then I've been mashing the hell out of my own controller D-Pad in all kinds of games, and never had issues with it. You could try what my brother does, though: Get yourself some old, thick cloth gloves (preferably, but they can be any material you want), and cut off all the fingers except the thumb. He switched the idea of a glove (for lack of it) for a sock. Or you can splurge around a bit and get yourself a pair of these.